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Historical Perspective: "Sea Chanteys" Then and Now

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's Maritime Research Center is home to the largest library in the National Park Service. Below we highlight a few interesting resources and facts from the Maritime Research Center about the role "sea chanteys" have had upon the maritime industry and the formation of the San Francisco Bay Area.  In fact, chantey singing in San Francisco continues to this day. 

For over thirty years sea music enthusiasts have gathered on the historic ships, C.A. Thayer and Balclutha,  docked at Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco to sing chantey's and other sea songs. This in-person event could draw several hundred people, and even during the pandemic, we are hopeful that the virtual chantey sing series will expand to several thousands as the live streaming goes beyond the San Francisco Bay Area and includes singers from around the nation.   

The term "sea chanteys" is usually used to describe work songs. These are shorter, with easily repeatable and remembered lyrics to be sung while hauling lines or turning a capstan. "Sea songs," in general, refers to songs sung about sailors by sailors that reflect upon their time at sea, away from home, and in foreign ports.  

For the library enthusiast in all of us, below is a link called the "Chantey Pathfinder" which contains a rich body of music recordings, books, journal articles, and favorites from song leader Peter Kasin who is a Park Ranger at the SF Maritime Park. All of these resources can be found using the search resources of the Maritime Research Center's Chantey Pathfinder here. 

 Every SF Maritime Association supported chantey sing event will feature more resources from our friends at the library and collections department. For this week's event, we feature a few of our favorite historical sea chantey inspired photographs. Enjoy!

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